What Does the Term 'Alcoholic' Mean?

The term "alcoholic" is used to describe a person struggling with a condition known as alcohol use disorder. This term, however, is steeped in stigma. Learn more about its symptoms and treatment.

January 17, 2025 · 7 min · 1386 words · Kimberly Cooper

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does the Term ‘Alcoholic’ Mean?Traits of AUDIdentifying AlcoholismCausesTypesTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Does the Term ‘Alcoholic’ Mean?

Traits of AUD

Identifying Alcoholism

Causes

Types

Treatment

The term alcoholic refers to a person with a condition known asalcohol use disorder(AUD). The disorder makes a person who has it experience an intense desire for alcohol even when it adversely affects their health. However, referring to a person with this condition as an alcoholic has negative connotations that can be harmful and hurtful.

AUD is a condition that needs proper treatment and management. Labels such as ‘alcoholic’ do nothing to help a person with the disorder get the help they need.

A person with AUD can lose control over the amount ofalcoholthey consume and continue to drink despite any adverse health, social or occupational consequences.

Traits of Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder can be a sneaky condition, especially for people who have already consumed alcohol occasionally. Common traits to look out for if you suspect you or aloved onemight have the disorder include:

Heavy alcohol use is the most identifying feature of alcohol use disorder. However, what comprises heavy alcohol use is often relative.

For this reason, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines heavy alcohol use as consuming more than four drinks a day or fourteen drinks a week for men.For women, they describe it as consuming more than three drinks a day or more than seven drinks a week.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month.

“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” provides diagnostic criteria for identifying alcohol use disorder. For a person to be diagnosed with the condition, three of the following factors must have been present for at least twelve months.

Causes of Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder can develop as a result of varying reasons. Consuming large amounts of alcohol over a long period ismost likely to result in alcohol use disorder. However, the time it takes for the condition to develop is highly individual.

While the condition might not develop for several years in some people, it might take only a few months for others. People in the latter category are often genetically predisposed to alcohol use disorder.

Certain factors put some people at a higher risk of developing the condition than others. They include:

Types of Alcohol Use Disorder

The NIAAA has identified five subtypes that can help you better understand alcohol use disorder and how it affects different individuals.

They include:

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Treatment for alcohol use disordervaries depending on the severity of your symptoms and how long the condition has persisted. The most common treatment options for people with the condition include the following listed below.

Psychotherapy

Alcohol use disorder is often linked to other mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Talking to a qualified therapist can help you get to the root of your condition and devise a means to kick it.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which equips you with the tools to turn negative habits into positive ones, is often used.

Medication

You might be prescribed medication to help with your condition in severe cases.

Reviva, Vivitrol Campral, are relatively new drugs that help reduce alcohol cravings, and can also help reduce some people’s desire to consume alcohol. Vivitrol and Revia can help people drink less alcohol even if they don’t want to stop drinking entirely. Many times people find these medications help them to quit drinking for good.

It’s important to note that this drug doesn’t cure AUD.It only helps deter some people with the condition from drinking.

Rehabilitation Programs

Rehabilitation programs are an excellent treatment option for people with severe symptoms of the condition. They remove you from your triggers and focus on helping you heal for the period you are in them. You are likely to engage in several forms of therapy, from individual to group therapy.

A Word From Verywell

Alcohol use disorder is a common condition. If you have it, you should know that you are not alone and you are living with a chronic medical condition that needs proper management and treatment. Some research shows that up to 6.2% of the American population lives with this condition.Recognizing that you need help is the first step in your treatment journey. If you or someone you know is showing traits of alcohol use disorder, contact your healthcare provider.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.National institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism(NIAAA).Drinking levels defined.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.Dsm-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.AJP. 2013;170(8):834-851.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391-400.McHugh R.Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders.ARCR. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.01.Edenberg HJ, Foroud T.Genetics and alcoholism.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;10(8):487-494.Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li TK.Impact of age at first drink on stress-reactive drinking.Alcoholism Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(1):69-77.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes.Stokes M, Abdijadid S.Disulfiram. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.National institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism(NIAAA).Drinking levels defined.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.Dsm-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.AJP. 2013;170(8):834-851.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391-400.McHugh R.Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders.ARCR. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.01.Edenberg HJ, Foroud T.Genetics and alcoholism.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;10(8):487-494.Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li TK.Impact of age at first drink on stress-reactive drinking.Alcoholism Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(1):69-77.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes.Stokes M, Abdijadid S.Disulfiram. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.National institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism(NIAAA).Drinking levels defined.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.Dsm-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.AJP. 2013;170(8):834-851.Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391-400.McHugh R.Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders.ARCR. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.01.Edenberg HJ, Foroud T.Genetics and alcoholism.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;10(8):487-494.Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li TK.Impact of age at first drink on stress-reactive drinking.Alcoholism Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(1):69-77.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes.Stokes M, Abdijadid S.Disulfiram. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.

National institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism(NIAAA).Drinking levels defined.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Hasin DS, O’Brien CP, Auriacombe M, et al.Dsm-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.AJP. 2013;170(8):834-851.

Keyes KM, Hatzenbuehler ML, Grant BF, Hasin DS.Stress and alcohol.Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):391-400.

McHugh R.Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders.ARCR. 2019;40(1):arcr.v40.1.01.

Edenberg HJ, Foroud T.Genetics and alcoholism.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;10(8):487-494.

Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li TK.Impact of age at first drink on stress-reactive drinking.Alcoholism Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(1):69-77.

National Institutes of Health (NIH).Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes.

Stokes M, Abdijadid S.Disulfiram. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

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